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Wednesday, October 26, 2016

The Day endorses the re-election of Sen. Art Linares in the 33rd Senatorial District

Linares on the left

Thank you to The Day
for hearing our message and for your endorsement!

"If enough
Connecticut
voters decide that the budgetary approach of the Democratic legislative
leadership needs replacing, Republicans could become the majority in the state
Senate in the Nov. 8 elections.

And if that
happens, incumbent Republicans like Art Linares, the two-term senator from the
33rd District Connecticut River valley shore towns, would, if re-elected, be in
a position to prove their claims that they could do a better job to manage Connecticut's finances
and economic prospects.

The best outcome
would be a Senate with near-equality between the two parties, encouraging if
not forcing bipartisanship. The challenge for the Republicans, whichever side
has control, would be to pivot from years of complaining about being shut out
of Democratic caucus meetings and show what they can do.

Voters in
the towns of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East
Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook have a
choice that offers genuine differences in approach among Linares and his
opponents, Democrat Norm Needleman, the first selectman of Essex, and Colin
Bennett, owner of a Deep River bookstore who is running as a Green Party
candidate.

All three
operate locally based businesses, which means that the winner will be someone
who understands the obstacles and opportunities for companies in a state that
many say is too hard on business.

Bennett, 37,
is reprising his low-key campaign of the 2014 election. He says his goal is
principally to show there are better ways to do the state's business. He
advocates for environmental issues, for reinstating benefits for needy citizens
and for increased taxation of wealthy residents.

Needleman, a popular
multi-term selectman and first selectman in Essex,
presents the viewpoint of a seasoned businessman who employs about 225 people
in manufacturing medicinal remedies like Bromo-Seltzer. He founded Tower
Industries in 1979; the day-to-day management is now done by his children. If
elected to the Senate he would continue his term as first selectman.

Needleman,
65, says his experience in municipal government has taught him that removing
restrictions is as important as enacting new laws. He would like to serve on
the General Assembly's appropriations committee, which recommends how the state
will spend its money, and the education committee.

He is a
strong candidate.

Linares, a Westbrook resident, also offers a
combination of public service and business experience. At 27, he serves as
executive vice president of human capital at Greenskies, a Middletown-based
solar energy firm he helped found as a family business.

An assistant
minority leader in the Senate Republican Caucus, he has sharply criticized the
budgeting process and its final product and has said his motive in running is
to oppose Democrats' fiscal policies. He would like to simplify the state tax
code for businesses, shrink government through use of technology, consolidate
state agencies and use furlough days to cut state employee labor costs.

Although he
accepted public campaign funding through the Citizens Election Program, he has
said he would end the program and to redirect the funds to other state
expenditures. On that point, we disagree. While allocations to candidates could
be trimmed, the CEP has been effective in keeping special interest money out of
legislative elections.

As a
delegate at last summer's national party convention, Linares helped nominate Republican
presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and continues to back him even as many
party leaders have slowly withdrawn their support following charges about his
behavior toward women and some of his statements.

While
disappointed with Linares' Trump stance, The Day's primary focus in endorsing
candidates for the state Senate is not the national political scene but for
Connecticut to deal with its sluggish economy and persistent budget crisis.
Needleman, while a thoughtful candidate and a proven public servant, would, as
a freshman senator, probably exert little influence. He will be expected to toe
his party's line.

Linares, on the other hand, lines up
with Republicans who could well have greater influence in the Senate in 2017
and who will push back on business as usual.

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